Book-matches.



J. R. NOLAN.

BOOK MATCHES.

APPLICATIOH FILED NOV. 1, 19M.

1. 168 9% 9mm M18, 1%.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. NOLAN, OF YONKERS, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOOK-MATCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed November 7, 1914. Serial No. 870,760;

its respective ends, the narrow end fold having an external ignition surface and being bent upon. and fastened to the marginal portions of the match cards, and the longer end fold constituting a cover flap which is adapted to be folded upon the rows of matches and to be temporarily retained in folded position thereon by tucking the free end of the flap under the corresponding edge of the narrow fold. To use book-matches of usual construction, the cover flap is swung open; a match is torn from the card, the

cover flap is (or ought to be) again folded, and the head of the match is struck on the exposed ignition surface. Frequently the flap is carelessly left open during the act of striking the match, and hence there is liability of the flame of the lighted match being blown or otherwise transmitted to the rows of match heads, with probable injury to the user.

It is the main object of my invention to provide a book-match package with a simple and eflicient flame-guard which obviates the necessity of re-folding the cover flap preliminary to the act of striking the match on the ignition surface 'of the device, and which guard, not only presents a valuable advertising surface, but it also facilitates the entry of the free end of the cover flap beneath the narrow or ignition fold, even when the margins of the cards are ruptured, and insures, besides, a more effectual retention of such flap in folded position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a flame guard of the character mentioned that may be associated with bookmatches during the manufacture of the latter, and this without much structural change invention, generally stated, comprises a book-match package in which a supplemental fiap is secured adjacent the basal portion of the matches so as to extend upward therefrom in such a manner that the free end portion of the flap lies upon and protects the ignitible heads when the cover is open, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure lis a perspective view of a form of book-match package embodying my invention, the main cover flap being represented as open. Fig. 2 is a plan of t e open package, parts of the supplemental flap and cover being indicated as torn away. Fig. 3 is an edge view, enlarged, of the closed package.

In the form of book-match package illustrated in the drawings the match cards (two of which are usually superposed) comprise groups of match splints 4 having ignitible heads 5 and basal connecting or marginal portions 6, and the cover comprises a strip of card board. or thick paper whereof one end is folded (as at 7 upon and secured to the margins of the match cards to constitute, in efiect, a pocket fold therefor, and.

end under the stapled fold.

11 designates a supplemental or flameprotective flap, usually of card-board or thick paper, which is imposed on the match cards and is secured at its lower end between the fold 7 and the match cards, preferably by the same agency that fastens the cards in place. This flap 11 extends freely upward and it. is of sufiicient length. and

breadth to cover the matches, including their heads, and the upper edge of such flap 11 is preferably partially inwardly bent or curved to hug the tips of the upper match heads, as indicated at 12, so as thereby more effectually to protect the heads when the cover flap is open and also to permit the ready flexing or closing of the latter about the free end of the supplemental flap.- The free end of the coverfiap is tucked under the ignition fold as heretofore, the entry of such end being facilitated by the smooth unobstructed surface presented thereto by the supplemental flap, irrespective of the ragged condition of the margins of the cards usually resulting from tearing the matches therefrom. Moreover the supplemental flap affords an efiicient backing surface for the opposing end portion of the cover flap and tends to grip and hold the latter more securely in closed position.

It is to be noted that in using a bookmatch package embodying my invention, the supplemental flap 11, being flexible, can be readily moved back from the match heads to permit the removal of a match, and that by virtue of the presence of the flap the tendency of the user is to pull the match edgewise, instead of flatwise, in the act of tearing it ofl, such edgewise pull insuring a much more easy breaking of the frangible marginal connection of the splint and minimizing the otherwise liability of transversely bending or breaking the body of the splint. The flap, when released, at once resumes its closed or protective position upon the match heads. The natural position of the thumb of the user, when holding the package in his hand during the act of striking the match on the lower ignition surface, presses the flap 11 down upon the heads and thus further insures them against accidental ignition by the flame of the lighted match.

It is also to be noted that the supplemental flap not only well fulfils its primary purpose as a flame guard,-but it also affords an advertising space in plain View of the user while he is engaged in removing and in striking the matches. Furthermore, inasmuch. as the match cards, the book-like cover therefor and'the fastening means, are unaltered, and as the auxiliary flap may be associated with the cover simultaneously with the cards, it is obvious that in its practical application my invention necessitates no extensive structural changein any-of the machinery nowused in the manufacture of ordinary book-matches of the kind referred to; ,r i

It is the general practice in a l book-matches to the usual metal cas d lidi n prising hingedly connected side members, to tear off the main portion of the cover and force its lower fold and the connected margins of the match-cards under inwardlyturned lips or flanges in one of the members of the case; thereby not only exposing the match heads to the danger of accidental ignition by the flame of a lighted match, but also largely destroying the advertising feature of the package. By my improvement, however, even though the book be mutilated for use in a match case as just mentioned, the supplemental flap still fully subserves its advertising as well as its protective purpose.

I claim- 1. A book-match package comprising a margin strip having extending therefrom a row of matches with ignitible heads, a flame-protective member composed of a separate piece of flexible material having one end secured in close relation to said strip and the other end extended freely upward therefrom and upon the match heads, and'a cover including a marginal portion secured in close relation to the said strip, a back portion for the matches and a flap portion, said marginal portion having a free upper edge throughout its width and said flap portion being substantially the same length as the matches andbeing adapted to be flexed about the heads of the matches and the free end of said protective member and tucked under the free edge of said marginal portion.

2. A book-match package comprising a card of matches having ignitible heads, a flame-protective member on the card covering the match heads, and a cover having an end folded upon the margin of the card and secured thereto and to the proximate end of the said member, and having also a flap portion adapted to be flexed about the heads of the matches and the free end of said protective member and tucked between the marginal fold of the cover and the proximate end of the said'member.

3. A book-match package comprising a card of matches havin ignitible heads, a flame protective mem er secured at its basal end to the margin of the card and of a length to extend to and cover the match heads, a cover having an end folded upon the margin of the card and the proximate end of the said member, and having also a flap portion adapted to be flexed about the heads of the matches and the free end of the protective member and tucked between the marginal fold of the cover and the proximate end of said member, and a ,common fastening device for the margin of the card, the marginal fold of the cover and the basal end of the said member.

4. A book-match ackage comprising a card of matches having ignitible heads, a flame-protective member on the card" having one end inturned to hug the matchheads,

and a cover folded at one end upon and 1,1ee,eco m secured to the proximate parts of the card Signed at New York in the county and and the protective member, and having a State of New York this sixth day of No flap portion adapted to be flexed about the vember A. D. 1914.

heads of the matches and the free end of JOHN R. NOLAN. 5 the protective member and tucked between Witnesses:

the superposed parts of the cover fold and B. CHANDLER SNEAD,

the protective member. FRANCES R. GRIFFIN. 

